How Mercedes is recapturing the FRIC effect

Mercedes' new heave damper unit seems to be making up for the loss of an old technology, while Honda's engine upgrades, the late start of Sauber's development programme and hot weather headaches are also providing technical intrigue at Spa

Engine developments, major upgrades for a team very short on those in 2016, more tweaks for the frontrunners and surprisingly hot weather have made the Belgian Grand Prix weekend more technically intriguing than might be expected of a race in the final months of the current rules cycle. But a part that probably won't be used this weekend is also worth a look.

MERCEDES' HEAVE DAMPER

Mercedes has recently run a new heave damper unit fitted to the front of the W07. Although it appears the new unit has been removed for this weekend, a closer analysis of photographs suggests Mercedes has developed a means to recreate parts of the effects of the interconnected front and rear 'FRIC' suspension that was outlawed in 2014.